Filing device



Feb. 17, 1953 A. s. KARPER 2,628,618

FILING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1945 IINVENTOR flhaham J. fl'arper ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V FILING DEVICE Abraham S. Karper, Ellenville, N. Y. Application May 18, 1945, Serial No. 594,424

This invention relates to improvements in filing devices, and particularly to an improved means of maintaining index or record cards, folders, or the like in immediate availability for use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a filing device comprising a'plurality of rotatable sections each having means for removably securing a relatively large number or cards, envelopes, or like items on or within which records are kept.

It is another object of the invention to provide a filing device comprising a housing or frame, within which is rotatably mounted a filing unit affording individual sections adapted to removably receive a relatively large number of record cards, filing folders or the like, arranged for easy access and ready reference.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved filing device comprising a housing or frame having means for removably securing a rotatable filing unit, whereby a unit may be removed as an entirety and another inserted Withinthe frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable file cabinet or the like, characterized by file-receiving sections disposed for rotation about a common axis, each section having a rigid base or table portion and a rigid backboard or wall against which the files may be held and protected against folding or crumpling.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved card or filing envelope arranged for easysecurement upon a rod or bail structure provided in a filing device.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide clip means whereby standard index or file cards or the like may be adapted for use with a filing device embodying rods or like structures upon which the cards may be removably mounted.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, in section, along lines 2! of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective of the filing device of Fig. 1, illustrating one card receiving section, with the card holder and an index card removed therefrom; and

4 is a side elevation, in section, of a part of a second form of the invention, the section thereof being taken through the center, as in Fig. 2.

3 Claims. (Cl. 129-46) Referring to Fig. 1, It! indicates a filing apparatus embodying the present invention. A frame comprising a base II and side walls I2 rotatably receives the card receiving unit [4, the latter consisting of a pair of flat rigid elements l5, is which are interfiitted in cruciform pattern to provide the plurality of individual card receiving sections I, II, III, IV, all of which are substantially identical.

For each section, the. interfitted structures provide a base or table portion B and a rear wall portion W extending angularly upwardly therefrom. The elements I5, I6 may be of laminated wood, Masonite, metal, plastic, or other easily fabricated material.

As shown in Fig. 1, pintles i! provide stub shafts about which the structure 14 may rotate. A friction washer l8 introduces resistance to rotation so that as the respective sections I, II, III, IV are brought into the operative position for the insertion or removal of cards or other items to be filed or referred to, the desired section will remain conveniently at hand. Secured to the elements [5, I5 at each of the card receiving sections, is a rigid rod 20 which, see Fig. 3, has one end which fits snugly into an opening 2| provided inone of the elements, and a slotted head 22 which fits frictionally within a narrow slit 23 provided in the other of the elements. When positioned, the rod presents a track extending the full length of the base or table portion of each section, in parallel relationship therewith, and provides means whereby the cards 24 or the like may be removably secured within the respective sections.

As desired, the rods 2Q may be permanently positioned, as by heading over either end, as at 2d, Fig. 4, or may be removable. The cards. filing folders or the like 25 may have a hole 2% therethrough adjacent one edge, with an entrance notch 2! and a slit 28 communicating therewith. The hole 25 is suitably larger than the cross sectional area of rod 2:.

When a card or folder is to be filled in the appropriate section of the apparatus, it is merely placed over the rod 25 and pressed downwardly, whereupon the slit spreads apart and permits the rod to enter the circular portion 26 to snap about the rod. The inherent stiffness of the card or folder material will prevent the accidental disengagement of the same from the rod, and despite the fact, see Fig. 2, that certain of the cards will always be suspended from the rod, none will accidentally detach therefrom.

Any means, such as the frictional rider 29, may be mounted on the rod and brought into posi- 3 tion to keep the respective cards in a substantially upright position with respect to the respective bases B, or to hold the cards securely against the back walls W to protect the cards against damage.

Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, in which there are three card receiving sections, rather than the four illustrated in Fig. 2. A standard 30 pivotally mounts a polygonal, illustratively triangular, shaft portion 3|, to the respective faces of which are aflixed the boards 32 which form the bases and walls of the card receiving pockets. The rods are secured to the respectiv elements similarly as previously de: scribed, and the frictional followers or slides 29 may likewise be employed. A pentagonal shaft 3| may be employed to attain five file sections,

It will be understood that the expressions "index cards," filing cards, filing envelopes," eke, are not used in the specification and claims in a limiting sense inasmuch as the apparatus is useful for filing or retaining man t pes .of articles which are to be filed away or kept in accessible form for future reference. It will also be under: t o n h vi n o t .koooo it unnecessary that the articles filed'be of a rela: tively stiff material. Newspaper clippings or stationary, for example, may be satisfactorily filed in apparatus embodying the invention here: in described.

Whereas it is obvious that the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved, it is apparent that numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. n rotary filing device comprising a base, a polygonal shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a flat plate having one face of the inner edge portion thereof covering the surface of each face of the polygonal shaft and secured thereto, the major portion of each plate projecting outwardly beyond the outer edge of the corresponding face of the polygonal shaft and disposed in the same plane as the respective face of the polygonal shaft whereby two adjacent plates ooact to form a file receiving compartment therebetween, said compartments extending circumferentially of the shaft and being open at their outer ends, and file retention means arranged in each compart-v ment.

2. A rotary filing device comprising a base, a, polygonal shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a flat plate having one face of the inner edge per.-

4 tion thereof covering the surface of each face of the polygonal shaft and secured thereto, the major portion of each plate projecting outwardly beyond the outer edge of the corresponding face of the polygonal shaft and disposed in the same plane as the respective face of the polygonal shaft whereby two adjacent plates coact to form a file receiving compartment therebetween, said compartments extending circgmferentially 0f the shaft and being open at their outer ends, and file retention means arranged in each compartment, said means comprising a rod secured at one end to the intermediate portion of one plate, said rod being disposed in parallel spaced relation along the face of the next adjacent plate, the outer end of the rod being disposed laterally and secured to the outer edge of said adjacent plate.

3, A rotary filing device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein the outer edge of each p o s p ovid d w th a in a l ex end lot. n a ho d rmod n he nd, of h a e lly d s os d Port f he rod for d h le on easemen w h the slot.

' ABRAHAM S.

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1 7 17 Home: Nov- 15; 1.91 1,116,525 Willman Nov. 10, .1914 1,130,597 H se Mon 2,- 91 1,172, 19 Cooke T. b.- 9 1,33 1 uck F 2t, 1920 1 17 95 onno 1 J ne 18. 1.929 1,867,158 K ne j--- J l 12.. 19.32 1 7 49 tflfiorq Oc 9. i934 2,097,018 Chamberlin ,o t. as, 9 7 2 2 9 2 oh liio d ---.--.T-.-.-. une 25. 1 2.249.2 5 B nd r --.--T .-,-.-T y .15, ,9 1 2,334,785 Mitchell Nov. 23, 1943 2 34 852 ru F b- 8. .1944 24 4 1 Bru n .-.-.-.,-,-.-.T. 1-7 u 15. 1 4

777:"rfi7'ffrf': FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,627 Great Britain 1911 523,266 Germany 193i 

